Locking connector for folding furniture legs

ABSTRACT

A locking connector, primarily intended for folding furniture such as tables and chairs, which includes a mounting plate for attachment to the flat undersurface of a table top or chair seat and having a pair of side flanges for mounting an essentially channel-shaped fixture. In one embodiment, the connecting web supports a screw-threaded dowel to receive a round furniture leg; and in another embodiment, one flange and a portion of the connecting web is extended for attachment to a square furniture leg. The mounting plate carries a latching lever and the fixture is provided with a cooperating surface for locking the fixture in perpendicular relation to the mounting plate.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Richard L. Muivin 706 LaPortada, South Pasadena, Calif. 91030 [211 Appl..No. 808,978 [22] Filed Mar. 20, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 678,919, Oct. 30, 1967, now abandoned.

[54] LOCKING CONNECTOR FOR FOLDING FURNITURE LEGS 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 287/99, 108/115,248/l88.6 [51] lnt.Cl F16c 11/00 [50] Field otSearch 248/188.6, 439, 188; 287/14, 99; 108/129, 127, 115

(56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,992 6/1914 Booraem 108/125 1,871,634 8/1932 Tingle 108/125 Primary Examiner-David J. Williamowslty Assistant Examiner-Andrew V. Kundrat Attorney-Lyon 8: Lyon ABSTRACT: A locking connector, primarily intended for folding furniture such as tables and chairs, which includes a mounting plate for attachment to the flat undersurface of a table top or chair seat and having a pair of side flanges for mounting an essentially channel-shaped fixture. In one embodiment, the connecting web supports a screw-threaded dowel to receive a round furniture leg; and in another embodiment, one flange and a portion of the connecting web is extended for attachment to a square furniture leg. The mounting plate carries a latching lever and the fixture is provided with a cooperating surface for locking the fixture in perpendicular relation to the mounting plate.

PATENIEIJ Am: 3:911 3; 595; 9 5

INVENTOR.

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BY a a LOCKING CONNECTOR FOR FOLDING FURNITURE LEGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a Continuation-In-Part of my previous application, Ser. No. 678,919, filed Oct. 30, 1967 and now abandoned, for Locking Connector For Folding Furniture Legs.

All devices which pivotally connect legs to tables or chairs employed for such purpose involve relatively pivotable members, one secured to a tabletop or the equivalent and the other secured to or forming a part of the leg or other foldable member. In each case, however, the member of the device fixed to the tabletop has required that the tabletop be provided with a skirt to which the member is secured, at least in part. Also, in many cases, foldable braces are used, attached to the table skirt and to the leg.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention involves several advantages, not realized in the prior art, as summarized by the following objects:

First, to provide a locking connector for folding furniture which is a self-contained unit requiring no bracing between the furniture components joined by the connector other than that contained in the connector itself.

Second, to provide a connector for the purpose indicated which incorporates a novel latching means between the parts of the connector whereby the furniture legs are rigidly secured in accurate relation to the tabletop or chair seat when in their extended condition.

Third, to provide a locking connector which includes a mounting plate arranged for attachment solely to a flat surface, such as the underside of a tabletop or chair seat, rather than to a depending skirt, and is provided with side flanges between which is pivotally mounted a leg-holding fixture movable between a folded position and a perpendicular position, the mounting plate having a pivotable latching lever and the fixture having a keeper means engaged by the lever to force confronting stop surfaces on the mounting plate and fixture into mutual bearing contact, thereby rigidly and accurate ly securing the parts together.

Fourth, to provide a locking connector in one embodiment of which the foldable fixture is provided with a screw-threaded dowel to receive, preferably, a round leg.

Fifth, to provide a locking connector in another embodiment of which one flange and the connecting web is extended to form an angle member for attachment, preferably, to a square leg.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. l is an inverted sectional view, illustrating one embodiment of the locking connector, taken substantially through 1-1 of FIG. 2 and showing the leg fitting in its extended position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, also showing the leg fitting in its extended position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof, showing the leg fixture in its folded position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating another embodiment of the locking connector, showing the leg fixture in its extended position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view thereof, showing the leg fixture in its folded position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 7-7 of FIG. 1.

Reference is first directed to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The locking connector for folding furniture legs herein illustrated includes a mounting plate I, which is rectangular and provided with a pair of side flanges 2. The connector also includes a log receiving fixture 3, which is essentially channel-shaped and includes a crossweb 4, joined along opposite margins to side flanges 5 which receive pivot pins 6 defining a common axis offset with respect to the web 4; that is, the axis is located in a plane perpendicular to the web located near one margin thereof.

The pivot pins 6, which may be rivets, are received in the side flanges 2 in central relation to the mounting plate 1. Centrally located on the web 4 is a screw-threaded dowel 7 which receives a leg ll of circular cross section, shown in broken lines. The fixture 3 is movable between a folded position in which the dowel 7 and leg 6 are located parallel to the plate l and an extended position in which the dowel and leg are perpendicular to the plate I.

Adjacent the margin of the web 4, remote from the axis defined by the pivot pins 6, is a pivot pin 9 which receives a collar 10 and latch lever 11. The lever includes a keeper arm 12 positioned to engage the adjacent. margin of the web 4, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, and a handle arm 13 having a handle knob 14. Either or both of the engaging portions of the keeper arm 12 and web 4 are beveled to form cams 15.

In order to ensure accurate positioning of the leg 8, the mounting plate I or the fixture web 4 is provided with one or more bosses 16 which initially are oversize so that on assembly of each locking connector, the boss may be finished to size so that the leg when extended will be precisely at right angles to the table or chair seat or other predetermined angle.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 4 and 5. In the construction herein illustrated, a modified leg-receiving fixture I7 is provided which, while also channel-shaped in cross section, is mounted so that its web 18 is perpendicular to the plate I when the leg is extended. The web is joined along one margin by a major side flange 19, and along its other side by a minor side flange 20. The major side flange and the portion of the web form an extension 211, which fits two sides of a leg 22, indicated by broken lines.

The side flanges 2 of the plate I are joined to the side flan'ges l9 and 20 at their margins remote from the web 18 by means of pivot rivets 6, as in the first embodiment, so that the fixture may be moved between a folded position in which the crossweb I8 is parallel to the mounting plate 1, as shown in FIG. 5, and an extended position in which the crossweb is perpendicular to the mounting plate, as shown in FIG. 4. In order that the fixture, when in its extended position, be truly perpendicular to the surface of the mounting plate 1, the mounting plate is provided, as in the first embodiment, with one or more of abutment bosses 16, which engage an abutment edge 23 formed by the crossweb 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Adjacent the abutment edge 23, the crossweb 18 is provided with a keeper slot 24, having a sloping ledge 25 engaged by the keeper arm 12 of the latch lever 11.

The mounting plates 1 of both embodiments are provided with openings 27 to receive screws or other fastening elements, and in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, similar openings 26 are provided in the fixture 117.

In order to provide controlled frictional movement between the mounting plate flanges 2 and the fixture 3 or 17, the pins 6 are provided with friction washers 28, as shown in FIG. 7. A pair of Nylon washers has been found satisfactory, however, other materials may be used.

Operation of both locking connectors is as follows:

The connector is used primarily to connect four legs to a table, or to a chair seat, in such a manner that the axis of the fixture 3 or 17 and their legs extends parallel to and adjacent each margin thereof, when in the folded position shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. When it is desired to extend the fixture, it is merely necessary to rotate each fixture from its folded position to its extended position shown, and then pivot the corresponding latch levers llll so that the cam faces keeper arm 12 engages the web 4 or ledge 25, forcing the web 4 or the abutment edge 25 tightly against the corresponding abutment boss 16. To refold the legs, it is merely necessary to disengage the latch levers and push the legs to their folded position.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the constructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. A locking connector for joining a leg to a table or chair, comprising:

a. a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the horizontal underside of a tabletop or a chair seat and confined to a corner thereof, said mounting plate having a pair of side flanges;

b. a leg attachment member also having a pair of side flanges fitting within and disposed contiguous to the flanges ofsaid mounting plate, and a web joining said side flanges, and a mounting member disposed perpendicularly to the web for insertion into the end of the leg;

c. pivot means joining said contiguous flanges for movement of the leg carried by said fitting between a folded position and an extended position essentially perpendicular to said tabletop or chair seat;

d. and latch and keeper means incorporating an edge of the web, and a lever member pivotally secured to said mount- I 

1. A locking connector for joining a leg to a table or chair, comprising: a. a mounting plate adapted for attachment to the horizontal underside of a tabletop or a chair seat and confined to a corner thereof, said mounting plate having a pair of side flanges; b. a leg attachment member also having a pair of side flanges fitting within and disposed contiguous to the flanges of said mounting plate, and a web joining said side flanges, and a mounting member disposed perpendicularly to the web for insertion into the end of the leg; c. pivot means joining said contiguous flanges for movement of the leg carried by said fitting between a folded position and an extended position essentially perpendicular to said tabletop or chair seat; d. and latch and keeper means incorporating an edge of the web, and a lever member pivotally secured to said mounting plate mutually engageable to secure said leg in its perpendicular position.
 2. A locking connector as in claim 1, wherein: a. said mounting plate is provided with at least one boss of predetermined height and said fitting is engageable with said boss to dispose said leg in a predetermined extended position.
 3. A locking connector, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. friction washers are interposed in said pivot means for holding said legs in their folded position. 